Editor’s Note: Journalism organizations are planning a nationwide campaign called Sunshine Week March 13-19 to press for public access to government documents, contending information is being withheld more often by officials who argue that post-Sept. 11, 2001, security concerns warrant keeping information secret. In addition to national stories… Read More
Significant gains have been made in recent years in Maine to protect public access to government records and meetings, according to Judith Meyer of the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition. Meyer lists Maine’s first statewide public records audit, in which public agencies across the state… Read More
The following is a list of states grouped by the amount of public access they provide as determined by a study by the Marion Brechner Citizen Access Project. The states listed in each category are not individually ranked: The top states in providing access are:… Read More
PORTLAND – A group representing the state’s top law enforcement officials pledged to work to educate its members about open-record laws after a survey by the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition. More than a third of police departments refused to allow access to their incident… Read More
PART TWO OF A THREE-PART SERIES When Alvah Sulloway complained about officials in his town holding closed-door meetings nearly 30 years ago, he quickly earned a reputation as a troublemaker. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var… Read More
Part one of a three-part series Local police were the worst offenders in a recent statewide survey of public officials’ compliance with Maine’s Freedom of Access Act. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false;… Read More
PORTLAND – The results of the statewide test of the ability of citizens to view public records in town offices, school districts and police departments have led to calls for changes. The Maine Freedom of Information Coalition, which conducted the survey, called for the Legislature… Read More
Maine’s Freedom of Access Act, commonly called the Right to Know Law, was passed in 1959 with the intent of ensuring that “public proceedings exist to aid in the conduct of people’s business.” In the original language of the bill, sponsors stressed that the law… Read More